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Ho JCY, Chai HH, Lo ECM, Huang MZ, Chu CH. Strategies for Effective Dentist-Patient Communication: A Literature Review. Patient Prefer Adherence 2024; 18:1385-1394. [PMID: 38974679 PMCID: PMC11225999 DOI: 10.2147/ppa.s465221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/09/2024] Open
Abstract
The effectiveness of high-quality dental care predominantly lies on the communication between dentist and patient. However, little literature has reported the importance of these "soft skills" in dental practice. The aim of this literature review is to explore strategies for effective dentist-patient communication. Dentist-patient communication is a bidirectional process involving the exchange of ideas that should be clear (easy to understand), correct (accurate), concise (to the point), complete (with essential information), and cohesive (well-organized). Effective communication empowers patients with the knowledge required to make an informed decision about their own oral health. It not only improves the dentist's efficiency and boosts patient confidence, but also alleviates patients' dental anxiety and fear, addresses patients' needs and preferences, increases patients' adherence, and enhances patient satisfaction. To enhance dentist-patient communication, dentists should take the patient-centered approach as a premise. The approach comprises understanding patients' illnesses, shared decision-making, and mindful intervention at the patient's own pace. In addition, dentists should use simple, succinct language, proper body posture, gestures, facial expressions, and eye contact when interacting with patients. Dentists should show empathy, encourage questions and feedback, employ visual aids, and give ample time to patients. Nowadays, dentists and their patients use messaging applications in their communication. This form of telecommunication is not only a convenient way of communication but also reduces the costs associated with a dentist visit. In conclusion, effective dentist-patient communication is vital for the success of dental practice. Dentists who prioritize communication and build positive relationships with their patients are more likely to achieve positive outcomes and foster the expansion of their dental practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmine Cheuk Ying Ho
- Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hollis Haotian Chai
- Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China
| | - Edward Chin Man Lo
- Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China
| | - Michelle Zeping Huang
- Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China
- Department of English, The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China
| | - Chun Hung Chu
- Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China
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Salinas Fredricson A, Krüger Weiner C, Adami J, Rosén A, Lund B, Hedenberg-Magnusson B, Fredriksson L, Svedberg P, Naimi-Akbar A. Sick leave and disability pension among TMD patients with musculoskeletal diseases, mental and behavioural disorders - a SWEREG-TMD population-based cohort study. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:852. [PMID: 37165335 PMCID: PMC10173494 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-15815-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are associated with musculoskeletal diseases (MSD), mental and behavioural disorders (MBD), and patients with TMD have been shown to have 2-3 times more days of sick leave (SL) and disability pension (DP) than the general population. MSD and MBD are two of the most common causes for SL and DP, and the association between TMD and the influence of comorbidities on the need for SL and DP among TMD patients need further clarification. This study investigates the impact of MSD and MBD comorbidity on SL and DP among TMD patients diagnosed in a hospital setting and/or surgically treated. METHODS All incident TMD patients diagnosed or treated in a hospital setting between 1998 and 2016 and aged 23-59 were included. A non-exposed comparison cohort was collected from the general population. The cohorts were grouped based on the presence of comorbidity: No comorbidity (Group I); MSD comorbidity (Group II); MBD comorbidity (Group III); and combined MSD and MBD comorbidity (Group IV). Main outcomes were mean annual days of SL and DP, and statistical analysis was conducted using generalized estimated equations. RESULTS TMD subjects with no comorbidities (Group I) and with MSD/MBD comorbidity (Group II and III) were 2-3 times more often on SL and DP than the corresponding groups from the general population. However, in the group with both MSD and MBD comorbidity (Group IV), the difference between the TMD subjects and the general population was diminishing, suggesting an additive effect. CONCLUSION TMD patients are more dependent on SL and DP benefits compared to general population and the difference remains even after considering MSD and MBD comorbidity. In individuals with combined MSD and MBD comorbidity, concurrent TMD has less impact on the need for social insurance benefits. The results accentuate the impact TMD has on the patients' impaired ability to return to work and why TMD should be recognized as having a substantial impact on individual and economic suffering as well as on societal costs, with emphasis on the influence of comorbidities on patient suffering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian Salinas Fredricson
- Public Dental Services, Folktandvården Stockholm, Eastmaninstitutet, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Eastmaninstitutet Käkkirurgi, Dalagatan 11, 102 31, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Division of Oral Diagnostics and Rehabilitation, Department of Dental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Carina Krüger Weiner
- Public Dental Services, Folktandvården Stockholm, Eastmaninstitutet, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Eastmaninstitutet Käkkirurgi, Dalagatan 11, 102 31, Stockholm, Sweden
- Division of Oral Diagnostics and Rehabilitation, Department of Dental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Gävle County Hospital, Gävle, Sweden
| | | | - Annika Rosén
- Public Dental Services, Folktandvården Stockholm, Eastmaninstitutet, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Eastmaninstitutet Käkkirurgi, Dalagatan 11, 102 31, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Dentistry, Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Bodil Lund
- Division of Oral Diagnostics and Rehabilitation, Department of Dental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Medical Unit for Reconstructive Plastic- and Craniofacial Surgery, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Britt Hedenberg-Magnusson
- Division of Oral Diagnostics and Rehabilitation, Department of Dental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Orofacial Pain and Jaw Function, Public Dental Services, Folktandvården Stockholm, EastmaninstitutetStockholm, Sweden
| | - Lars Fredriksson
- Division of Oral Diagnostics and Rehabilitation, Department of Dental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Orofacial Pain and Jaw Function, Public Dental Services, Folktandvården Stockholm, EastmaninstitutetStockholm, Sweden
| | - Pia Svedberg
- Division of Insurance Medicine, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Aron Naimi-Akbar
- Public Dental Services, Folktandvården Stockholm, Eastmaninstitutet, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Eastmaninstitutet Käkkirurgi, Dalagatan 11, 102 31, Stockholm, Sweden
- Division of Oral Diagnostics and Rehabilitation, Department of Dental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Health Technology Assessment-Odontology (HTA-O), Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden
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Nitschke I, von Chlingensperg R, Schrock A, Hopfenmüller W, Jockusch J. What Counts for the Old and Oldest Old?-An Analysis of Patient Criteria for Choosing a Dentist-Part I: Awareness and Selection Criteria, Infrastructure, and Dental Office Equipment. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19148307. [PMID: 35886163 PMCID: PMC9324363 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19148307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Revised: 07/03/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Utilization of a dentist is influenced by many factors. The aim of this study is to present the factors relating to how patients become aware of a dentist, according to which criteria they select the dentist, and which factors in the infrastructure, equipment of dental offices, and human interactions are important for patients. A telephone survey with 466 participants (female 59.9%) in three age groups (ag 1: 35−50 years, ag 2: 70−84 years, ag 3: >85 years) in three German cities was conducted. Data were analyzed with respect to age, gender, and place of residence. Hardly any differences in the selection of the dentist and the selection criteria applied were found between the sexes, the age groups, or the places of residence. Recommendation seems to be the major aspect regarding how patients become aware of or select their dentist (n = 278, 65.6%), while modern technologies, e.g., the internet, play a subordinate role (n = 31, 7.3%). The unimportance of modern technologies increases significantly with the increase in age. As age increases, factors such as infrastructure (e.g., elevator available (ANOVA p < 0.001; Bonferoni correction: significant differences between ag 1 and ag 2 p < 0.001, ag 1 and ag 3 p < 0.001, and ag 2 and ag 3 p = 0.009); accessibility by wheelchair (ANOVA p < 0.001; Bonferoni correction: significant differences between ag 1 and ag 2 p = 0.006; and ag 1 and ag 3 p < 0.001); etc.) and dental office equipment become significantly important and influence the choice of dentist, while the importance of good parking facilities significantly decreased with age (ANOVA p = 0.003; Bonferoni correction: significant differences between ag 1 and ag 3 p = 0.004, and ag 2 and ag 3 p = 0.023). With increasing age, e.g., the importance of a television in the waiting room (ANOVA p = 0.012; Bonferoni correction: significant differences between ag 1 and ag 3 p = 0.014; and ag 2 and ag 3 p = 0.011), a modern waiting room (ANOVA p < 0.001; Bonferoni correction: significant differences between ag 1 and ag 3 p < 0.001; and ag 2 and ag 3 p < 0.001) or the possibility to visualize the oral situation on a screen decreases significantly (ANOVA p < 0.001; Bonferoni correction: significant differences between ag 1 and ag 2 p < 0.001; ag 1 and ag 3 p < 0.001, and ag 2 and ag 3 p < 0.001). If dentists want to welcome and treat older people, they should adapt the accessibility, infrastructure and equipment of their practice to the needs of older people in order to be able to guarantee continuous lifelong dental care regardless of the need for assistance or care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ina Nitschke
- Gerodontology Section, Department of Prosthodontics and Materials Science, University of Leipzig, Liebigstraße 12, 04103 Leipzig, Germany or (I.N.); (R.v.C.); (A.S.)
- Clinic of General, Special Care and Geriatric Dentistry, Center of Dental Medicine, University of Zurich, Plattenstrasse 11, 8032 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Richard von Chlingensperg
- Gerodontology Section, Department of Prosthodontics and Materials Science, University of Leipzig, Liebigstraße 12, 04103 Leipzig, Germany or (I.N.); (R.v.C.); (A.S.)
| | - Annett Schrock
- Gerodontology Section, Department of Prosthodontics and Materials Science, University of Leipzig, Liebigstraße 12, 04103 Leipzig, Germany or (I.N.); (R.v.C.); (A.S.)
| | - Werner Hopfenmüller
- Institute of Biometry and Clinical Epidemiology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, 10117 Berlin, Germany;
| | - Julia Jockusch
- Gerodontology Section, Department of Prosthodontics and Materials Science, University of Leipzig, Liebigstraße 12, 04103 Leipzig, Germany or (I.N.); (R.v.C.); (A.S.)
- University Research Priority Program “Dynamics of Healthy Aging”, University of Zurich, 8050 Zurich, Switzerland
- Correspondence: or
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